Okay, let's talk about the end of Hill Street Blues. The final episode, "Here's Adventure, Here's Romance." Did it nail the landing? Some say yes. I'm...less convinced.
It wasn't terrible, mind you. Just... weird. Remember how consistently gritty and realistic the show usually was?
A Little *Too* Much Adventure?
The finale seemed to crank the dial to "Hollywood Ending" a bit too high. It felt like a greatest hits compilation. But maybe *too* greatest hits.
Joyce Davenport and Captain Frank Furillo getting married? Sweet. But also predictable. It felt like fan service, to be honest.
Phil and Renko: Always Reliable. Sort Of.
Then there's Phil Esterhaus, bless his heart. Still doing his roll call thing. Even though, you know... he's a ghost.
Okay, hear me out. I get the sentiment. It's a nod to the heart of the show. But didn't it feel a little...cheesy? Maybe I'm just a cynic.
And Renko and Hill? They're still out there patrolling. Saving the day. As always, with that trademark awkward banter.
The Good, The Bad, and The Slightly Confusing
Let's talk about the actual plot. It involved a serial bomber, naturally. High stakes, tense situations. Exactly what you'd expect.
But was it the *best* plot? Debatable. I felt a bit detached, honestly. Maybe because I knew everyone was going to be okay-ish. TV rules, right?
Then we have Howard Hunter leading a SWAT team. Classic Hunter. Remember his weird tactics and overall oddness?
He was such a strange, yet compelling character. I'm not sure his storyline in the finale was great, but he was there being...Hunter.
My Unpopular Opinion (Prepare Yourself)
Here it comes. My unpopular opinion: The finale was...fine. Just fine. It wasn't the worst ending ever, not by a long shot.
But it didn't capture the magic of the show at its peak. The show was more realistic and serious than the finale.
The magic was in the messy, complicated, everyday struggles. Not the neatly tied-up storylines and feel-good moments.
Remember the quiet moments? The conversations in the locker room? Those are the things I miss.
So, What *Should* Have Happened?
I don't know! That's the beauty of art, isn't it? Maybe no ending could ever truly satisfy everyone.
Maybe the perfect ending would have been...no ending. Just fade to black. Let the Hill live on, forever unresolved.
Or maybe Furillo should've yelled "Let's be careful out there!" at the end. Just one last time. Yeah, that would have been perfect.
In the end, Hill Street Blues will always be a classic. Its finale? A little flawed, perhaps. But still worth watching. Just maybe with slightly lowered expectations.
And hey, at least nobody got eaten by a polar bear. Small victories, right?
